2008年9月中级口译考试试题.docx

2008年9月中级口译考试试题SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST (45 minutes)Part A: Spot DictationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage ONLY ONCE.Americans have four primary avenues for making friends: at work, at school, through a hobby or a _ (1) such as volunteer work and discussion group, or through a family or _ (2).In American culture, a job is more than the work that one performs between the hours of 9 a.m. and _ (3). Work becomes a major socializing influence. Many young mothers who _ (4) their jobs to care for small children remark on the loneliness of their new lifestyles because they have lost their forum for _ (5).A great number of American employers recognize business social _ (6) and use it to build a family atmosphere on the job so that employees will feel _ (7) in their work environment. Some employers arrange company get-togethers in their home or at a _ (8). American companies have at least one _ (9) annually, usually at Christmas time. Many corporations have _ (10) where employees and administrators alike dress _ (11) to play games such as baseball and volleyball.Top American administrators often hold social gatherings _ (12). Depending upon the size of the employers home and the number of _ (13), these social gatherings may be picnics, pool parties, or _ (14). If the company is large, an employer may hold what Americans call _ (15). For an open house, the employer will invite his employees to come to his home _ (16) between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on a certain day. Those invited usually stay for _ (17), chatting with the other guests and their host. People come and go _ (18) during the designated hours, and the host keeps refreshments, usually, _ (19) or hors doeuvres and beverages, available for all who come. For such social gatherings, it is considered _ (20) the invitation unless you have an excellent reason.Part B: Listening Comprehension. StatementsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements will be spoken ONLY ONCE, and you will not find them written on the paper; so you must listen carefully. When you hear a statement, read the answer choices and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.1.(A) Going shopping is much more exhaustive than shopping on the Internet.(B) For me, taking a rest is better than surfing the Internet or shopping.(C) I am not sure if I should take a break to work in the garden this morning.(D) My friend and I have to finish our annual report by this weekend.2.(A) It is hardly true that Mr Johnson is a new employee with such initiatives.(B) We are not sure if Mr Johnson is satisfied with his working environment.(C) Usually new employees will not take such initiatives as Mr Johnson does.(D) Mr Johnson is really very friendly as he helps us with our working initiatives.3.(A) What are the differences between marketing and cost-effective publicity?(B) Could you say something on the subject of cost-effective publicity?(C) How much will the conference on marketing and sales cost us?(D) When will the subject of the 50-minute conference be publicized?4.(A) Children will directly or indirectly affect what their parents purchase.(B) Growing children will have special needs that their parents cannot satisfy.(C) The needs for special food and clothing are more obvious in girls.(D) It is necessary for parents to influence what their children eat and wear.5.(A) The apple is one of the fruits that can lower your blood sugar.(B) Apples are sugar-containing fruits that may raise your blood sugar.(C) Although it is sugar-containing, the apple is a kind of healthy fruits.(D) For those who are on a diet, an apple a day is enough because it digests slowly.6.(A) We decided to purchase a camera for our online course.(B) I know that we cannot beat the price for the camera on the Net.(C) The order is that we need to buy the camera cheaper on the Internet.(D) The camera we bought is more expensive than I expected.7.(A) The problem of inflation could be worsened due to rising unemployment and wage explosion.(B) Because of the rise of unemployment during inflation, there could be a wage explosion.(C) The most serious economic problem in the wake of inflation is a possible wage explosion.(D) A possible way to curb inflation and rising unemployment is to raise the workers wages dramatically.8.(A) This kind of tax on imported goods is unnecessary.(B) To practice economy, the government imposes a tax.(C) A tariff is recommended by our economists.(D) The tariff is a government tax on imported goods.9.(A) We had planned to sell $120,000 worth of this new product.(B) We had a promotion plan for our product that costs $ 360,000.(C) Originally, there were 3 promotion plans for the new product.(D) The sales figure of our new product had reached a record high.10.(A) The committee voted against the proposed project.(B) The committee approved the proposed project.(C) The committee considered the short report well written.(D) The committee was convinced by the documented report.II. Talks and ConversationsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear a few questions. Listen carefully because you will hear the talk or conversation and questions ONLY ONCE. When you hear a question, read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Questions 11-1411.(A) Discussing inflation with the man.(B) Helping her parents pay for debts.(C) Seeking a permanent job overseas.(D) Studying in a foreign country. 12.(A) Her parents unwillingness to pay her tuition.(B) Her desire to earn as much as possible.(C) The rising cost of living through inflation.(D) The fact that she is an overseas student.13.(A) The education centre.(B) The university bookstore.(C) The university library.(D) The student cafeteria.14.(A) She will use her study time more effectively.(B) She will buy second-hand books from the store.(C) She will spend her money on something else.(D) She will devote more time to working extra hours.Questions 15-1815.(A) A palm reader. (B) A speech therapist.(C) A student. (D) A teacher.16.(A) She was ill. (B) She was afraid.(C) She was anxious. (D) She was excited.17.(A) 50. (B) 120. (C) 220. (D) 240.18.(A) Her anxiety. (B) Her mistake. (C) Her excitement. (D) Her success.Questions 19-2219.(A) He was at a news conference.(B) He was on a business trip.(C) He was traveling with the companys CEO.(D) He was negotiating with a New York agent.20.(A) The companys top executives. (B) Producers and servicemen.(C) Agents and customers. (D) Managers from home and abroad.21.(A) 220. (B) 250. (C) 300. (D) 350.22.(A) The loudspeakers. (B) The visual aids.(C) The hall capacity. (D) The lunch menu.Questions 23-2623.(A) Working is more important than having a holiday.(B) A driver should be more careful than a pedestrian.(C) In driving, it is always safety that comes first.(D) It is dangerous to drive fast in crowded areas.24.(A) Because they may not judge speeds very well.(B) Because they may step into the road for convenience.(C) Because they cannot run very fast.(D) Because they may become nervous easily.25.(A) Shoppers. (B) Traffic police.(C) Young people. (D) The handicapped.26.(A) Signal to a school crossing patrol.(B) Slow down or stop to let people cross.(C) Overtake other drivers for safety.(D) Watch out for a Stop-Children sign.Questions 27-3027.(A) Programme writing. (B) Note-takind techniques.(C) Handwriting analysis. (D) Sample collecting.28.(A) A good self-controlled personality. (B) An introspective nature.(C) A friendly and sociable disposition. (D) A mix of interest and emotion.29.(A) Socially-minded people. (B) Scientists and intellectuals.(C) Mediocre writers. (D) Friendly companions.30.(A) The rounded, medium size of the letters.(B) The small open as and os.(C) The wide spaces between the words.(D) The upright slant and the signature.Part C: Listening and Translation. Sentence TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentences in English. You will hear the sentences ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)II. Passage TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. You will hear the passages ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening.(1)(2)SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS (45 minutes)Directions: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is followed by several questions based on its content. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A), (B), (C) or (D), to each question. Answer all the questions following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Questions 1-5Mankinds fascination with gold is as oid as civilization itself. The ancient Egyptians esteemed gold, which had religious significance to them, and King Tutankhamen was buried in a solid-goJd coffin 3300 years ago.People have always longed to possess gold. Unfortunately, this longing has also brought out the worst in the human character. The Spanish conquistadores robbed palaces, temples, and graves, and killed thousands of Indians in their ruthless search for gold. Often the only rule in young California during the days of the gold rush was exercised by the mob with a rope. Even today, the economic running of South Africas gold mines depends largely on the employment of black laboures who are paid about 40 a month, plus room and board, and who must work in conditions that can only be described as cruel. About 400 miners are killed in mine accidents in South Africa each year, or one for every two tons of gold produced.Much of golds value lies in its scarcity. Only about 80,000 tons have been mined in the history of the world. All of it could be stored in a vault 60 feet square, or a supertanker.Great Britain was the first country to adopt the gold standard, when the Master of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton, established a fixed price for gold in 1717. But until the big discoveries of gold in the last half of the nineteenth centurystarting in California in 1848 and later in Australia and South Africathere simply wasnt enough gold around for all the trading nations to link their currencies to the precious metal.An out-of-work prospector named George Harrison launched South Africa into the gold age in 1886 when he discovered the metal on a farm near what is now Johannesburg. Harrison was given a 12 reward by the farmer. He then disappeared and reportedly was eaten by a lion.Historically, the desire to hoard gold at home has been primarily an occupation of the working and peasant classes, who have no faith in paper money. George Bernard Shaw defended their instincts eloquently: You have to choose between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the government, he said, and with due respect to these gentlemen, I advise you . to vote for gold.1.It can be inferred from the passage that during the days of the gold-rush in California _.(A) people had to mark out their gold claims with a rope(B) people carried ropes instead of guns(C) hanging was a common form of punishment(D) the rope was the symbol of law and order2.One of the problems with gold is that _.(A) it loses its shape too easily(B) it changes the human characters(C) it entails danger to the miners(D) it costs money to produce .3.According to the passage, gold has always been considered a precious metal mainly because _.(A) money is made of it (B) it is rare(C) a small quantity goes a long way (D) it has religious significance4.After the big gold discoveries in the late nineteenth century _.(A) the trading nations adopted the gold standard(B) the trading nations were unable to get enough gold(C) gold coins were used by most nations(D) gold was considered to be a kind of precious metal5.George Bernard Shaw thought that _.(A) the members of the government were honest and intelligent(B) the value of gold was likely to change unexpectedly(C) gold was more valuable than paper money(D) one could place more faith in gold than in politiciansQuestions 6-10Let us take a brief look at the planet on which we live. As Earth hurtles through space at a speed of 70,000 miles an hour, it spins, as we all know, on its axis, which causes it to be flattened at the Poles. Thus if you were to stand at sea level at the North or South Pole you would be 13 miles nearer the centre of the earth than if you stood on the Equator.The earth is made up of three major layersa central core, probably metallic, some 4000 miles across, a surrounding layer of compressed rock, and to top it all a very thin skin of softer rock, only about 20 to 40 miles thick-thats about as thin as the skin of an apple, talking in relative terms.The pressure on the central core is unimaginable. It has been calculated that at the centre it is 60 million pounds to the square inch, and this at a temperature of perhaps 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The earths interior, therefore, would seem to be of liquid metaland evidence for this is given by the behaviour of earthquakes.When an earthquake occurs, shock waves radiate from the centre just as waves radiate outwards from the point where a stone drops into a pond. And these waves pulsate through the earths various layers. Some waves descend vertically and pass right through the earth, providing evidence for the existence of the core and an indication that it is fluid rather than solid. Thus, with their sensitive instruments, the scientists who study earthquakes, the seismologists, can in effect X-ray the earth.Iceland is one of the most active volcanic regions of the world. And it was to Iceland that Jules Verne sent the hero of his book A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. This intrepid explorer clambered down the opening of an extinct volcano and followed its windings until he reached the earths core. There he found great oceans, and continents with vegetation. This conception of a hollow earth we now know to be false. In the 100 years since Jules Verne published his book, the science of vulcanology, as it is called, has made great strides. But even so the deepest man has yet penetrated is about 10,000 feet. This hole, the Robinson Deep mine in South Africa, barely scratches the surface; so great is the heat at 10,000 feet that were it not for an elaborate air-conditioning system, the miners working there would be roasted. Oil borings down to 20,000 feet have shown that the deeper they go, the hotter it becomes.The temperature of the earth at the centre is estimated to be anything between 3,000 and 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Some scientists believe that this tremendous heat is caused by the breaking-down of radio-active elements, which release large amounts of energy and compensate for the loss of heat from the earths surface. If this theory is correct, then we are all living on top of a natural atomic powerhouse.6.The outer layer of the earth is compared to the skin of an apple because _.(A) it is about 20 to 40 miles thick(B) it is thin in proportion to the earths mass(C) it is softer than the central core(D) it is thinner than the surrounding layer7.Which of the following cannot explain why the interior of the earth is fluid?(A) There is great pressure at the centre.(B) Earthquake waves can move vertically.(C) The outer layer is made of rock.(D) The heat at the centre is too great.8.The Robinson Deep mine in South Africa is _.(A) too deep to work in (B) too hot to work in(C) close to the centre (D) still in use9.Since the publication of Jules Vernes book it has been proved that _.(A) the centre of the earth is not hollow(B) oil borings cannot go deeper than 20,000 feet(C) there are active volcanic regions at the centre(D) the earth is not in danger of exploding10.What is the best title for the passage?(A) The Earthquake. (B) The Underworld.(C) The Volcanic Regions. (D) The Great Oceans.Questions 11-15Many people will have heard of the Alexander technique but have only a vague idea what it is about. Until earlier this year, I didnt have the faintest idea about it. But, hunched over a computer screen one day, I noticed that the neck- and backache I regularly suffered were more painful than usual